Third-year music students Amber and Destiny undertake their work placement at Humber Street Gallery

At the end of 2024, third year music students Amber and Destiny completed their placement here at Humber Street gallery. Here’s what Amber was hoping to get out of her experience:

“I’m doing my placement at Humber Street Gallery, because it’s an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in the contemporary art sector that focuses on a lot of local artists. The gallery’s diverse range of exhibitions and events will allow me to learn curating, event management, as well as audience engagement. I’m particularly excited about the chance to work in a creative environment that emphasises community involvement and collaboration, which aligns with my career goals in the art sector. I also think it will be a great opportunity to network with professionals in the field and develop skills that will be valuable for my future career.”

During their time here, they learned about the roles of each team member within the organisation, engaged with our current exhibitions and gained some hands-on experience with the communities we regularly work with. This is what Destiny said about her experience on placement here:

“As a music student with a keen interest in business and finance, stepping into the world of Humber Street Gallery for my work placement was an exciting opportunity to bridge two seemingly different worlds. This experience has given me valuable insights into how creative organisations operate and the various roles that play in supporting the arts.

Although my background is in music, I’ve always been fascinated by the broader ecosystem of the arts—how creative organisations are run, funded, and sustained. Humber Street Gallery, with its focus on bold contemporary art and community engagement, felt like the ideal place to learn how business principles intersect with creativity.

I wanted to see how a gallery of this scale manages its operations, builds its audience, and balances financial sustainability with artistic ambition. These are the kinds of challenges I hope to tackle in my future career, whether it’s in the music industry or the wider creative sector.

Before starting, I imagined the gallery environment to be relatively straightforward —focused on exhibitions and interacting with visitors. The reality has been far more complex and rewarding. From sourcing funding and managing budgets to planning events and fostering partnerships, I’ve seen how much behind-the-scenes work goes into ensuring the gallery thrives.

What struck me most was how adaptable the team needs to be. Each project or exhibition comes with unique challenges, whether it’s working within limited budgets, or attracting diverse audiences. It’s not just about making art happen—it’s about creating systems and strategies to support the creative process sustainably.

Humber Street Gallery has impressed me as a space that seamlessly integrates creativity and business acumen. Its focus on community engagement while showcasing innovative contemporary art demonstrates the value of thoughtful leadership and financial planning.

For someone like me, with an eye on business and finance, the gallery has been a fascinating case study. It’s a reminder that the arts aren’t just about passion—they require a solid foundation of business strategies to ensure longevity and impact.

The current exhibition has been an eye-opening experience, not only for its artistic impact but also for the logistics involved. Seeing how the team budgets for installations, coordinates with artists and promotes the exhibition has given me a new appreciation for the financial and organisational skills required in the arts.

I’ve particularly enjoyed learning how the gallery measures success—not just in visitor numbers but in community engagement and impact.

This placement has shown me that a career in the arts isn’t just about creativity; it’s about being versatile, strategic, and financially savvy. Whether it’s in music, visual art, or other creative fields, strong business and financial skills are essential to sustain organisations and projects.

For me, this means continuing to develop skills in budgeting, fundraising, and financial management, while also building networks and understanding the needs of both artists and audiences. Opportunities for placements like this are invaluable for gaining real-world experience and seeing how these skills are applied in practice.

This placement has reinforced my passion for combining my music background with my interest in business and finance. I’m eager to explore roles in arts management or financial planning for creative organisations, where I can help build sustainable models that support artists and reach wider audiences.

The experience has also opened my eyes to how interconnected the arts are. Whether it’s a gallery, a music venue, or a performing arts organisation, the challenges of funding, strategy, and audience development are universal. Humber Street Gallery has given me a strong foundation to build on as I continue exploring this path.

This placement hasn’t just been about work experience—it’s been about discovering how my interests in music, business, and finance can come together to make a meaningful impact in the arts. I’m excited to see where this journey will take me next.”

Amber also commented that “this placement has not only been a joy, but an incredible opportunity to gain understanding of a new world I am yet to jump into. It has also helped me make my decision to fully immerse myself in the arts.”

Their placement concluded with the Freelance Artists’ Creative Connect in December, which was produced and organised by Amber and Destiny. The event brought together freelance creatives in Hull and surrounding areas, offering the opportunity for them to network and celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere.